Leonardtown, MD – November 12, 2019 – November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and this November is also the 10th anniversary of the opening of Hospice House in Callaway. Made possible by generous donations from our community, the house has served more than 900 patients since it opened.
“We are constantly amazed by the incredible support we continue to receive from the community,” said Kathy Franzen, BSN, RN, interim director of Hospice of St. Mary’s. “Caring for patients and their families at the end of their lives is truly a privilege for us. Hospice House gives these families moments and memories that otherwise would not occur.”
According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, there are nearly 1.6 million people living with a life-limiting illness who receive care from hospice and palliative care providers in this country. Hospice of St. Mary’s offers care for patients in a variety of settings: home, nursing homes, assisted living centers, and the Hospice House.
“Hospice never turns anyone away for lack of ability to pay,” said Franzen. “On average, charity care in the Hospice House runs $300,000 per year. Insurance payments alone do not cover the cost of care at the Hospice House. The incredible support of our community enables us to continue to provide this care to our community.”
The Hospice House features six patient rooms and is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week to meet patients’ needs. Designed to feel like a home, the facility also houses the Hospice of St. Mary’s offices. Volunteers prepare meals, maintain cleanliness, do errands and maintain the Hospice House yard.
Hospice House exists as a testament to the generosity and compassion found in our community, manifesting as a place to care for those who cannot be cared for at home,” said Franzen. “As hospice providers, we thank the family members for the privilege of caring for their loved one. There is something about someone entrusting you with the last months, weeks, days of their life that is very profound and moving—it is not taken lightly.”
Visit HospiceOfStMarys.org for more information about Hospice House and the programs and services offered by St. Mary’s Hospice, or call 301-994-3023 for more information.
